NBA Players & COVID-19 Treatment Research
- Several NBA players who have recovered from COVID-19 are planning to donate their blood plasma for an experimental treatment.
- The convalescent plasma therapy involves using antibodies from the blood of recovered patients to fight the virus in those who are currently ill.
- Joyner noted that NBA players could be especially valuable donors due to their size and training.
NBA players are stepping up to contribute to COVID-19 treatment research: Several have committed to donating plasma to help fight the virus. This convalescent plasma therapy utilizes antibodies extracted from recovered patients to aid those still battling the illness. Among those participating is Boston Celtics point guard marcus Smart. The NBA is supporting the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project too, with a $100,000 donation. This is a critical step in furthering scientific understanding of COVID-19 and potential treatments. News Directory 3 is following the story closely. Discover what’s next as this research unfolds and impacts patient care.
NBA Players Donate Plasma for COVID-19 Treatment Research
Updated June 4, 2025
Several NBA players who have recovered from COVID-19 are planning to donate their blood plasma for an experimental treatment. This effort aims to help high-risk patients combat the virus,according to Dr. Michael Joyner, a leader wiht the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project.
The convalescent plasma therapy involves using antibodies from the blood of recovered patients to fight the virus in those who are currently ill. Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart confirmed his participation after being cleared of the virus by the Massachusetts Department of Health last month. At least three other players are also planning to donate, though their identities have not been released.
Joyner noted that NBA players could be especially valuable donors due to their size and training. “these are big men with blood volumes, and consequently [they] have a lot of plasma volume,” Joyner said. He added that physically trained individuals often have increased plasma volume, which could enhance the treatment’s effectiveness in reducing the duration and severity of the illness.
“These are big men with blood volumes, and as a result [they] have a lot of plasma volume,” Joyner said.
The NBA has encouraged players who have recovered from the coronavirus to consider donating their plasma. The league has also contributed $100,000 to the National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project through its NBA Together campaign, supporting COVID-19 treatment research.
What’s next
The donated plasma will be used in ongoing research to assess the effectiveness of convalescent plasma therapy in treating COVID-19 patients, potentially leading to broader applications and improved outcomes.